She couldn't pretend they didn't know each other anymore. Tang Zhuyun smiled awkwardly. "I see him, I see him."
Yanran was delighted.
Wouldn't everyone know now that she only liked Elder Sister Tang?
Then no one would bring up the matter of a consort for the Prince of Jin. And if her father had to marry, Elder Sister Tang would be the best choice!
That way, she wouldn't have to part from Elder Sister Tang, and there wouldn't be an evil stepmother for her to worry about.
"Look, Father is looking at you too, Sister."
Tang Zhuyun dearly wished she could cover Yanran's mouth.
Was he looking at her? He was looking at Yanran, his own daughter!
"Yanran, are you hungry?" Tang Zhuyun hurriedly took her hand and led her toward their seats, hoping to change the subject.
She didn't want to be branded as the Prince of Jin's woman.
But just after she sat back down, as she was wondering how to tell Yanran that such things shouldn't be said in public because they could easily cause misunderstandings, Tang Zhuyun heard a gentle female voice.
"Are you Miss Tang?"
The voice felt like a spring breeze. Tang Zhuyun couldn't help looking up, and saw Meng Yulan, who had been surrounded like the moon by stars just now, standing beside her.
Tang Zhuyun said, "That's me. Did you need something, Miss Meng?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized that Meng Yulan had probably heard what Yanran said, either herself or from someone else, and felt threatened, so she had come to sound her out.
She hurriedly said, "Miss Meng, please don't misunderstand. Yanran is only staying at my home to recover from her illness..."
Meng Yulan said lightly, "What would I misunderstand? What does the Prince of Jin have to do with me?"
Tang Zhuyun didn't know whether it was her imagination, but Meng Yulan seemed a little... disappointed?
Then Meng Yulan exchanged a few pleasantries with her and said she was welcome to visit her residence sometime, before returning to her seat with her maid.
Tang Zhuyun was utterly bewildered.
What was all that about?!
If she had once thought she could survive into the second half of a palace intrigue drama, she now seriously doubted she could make it through a single episode.
If she couldn't beat them, she had to keep a low profile.
Tang Zhuyun stayed silent as a quail and focused on looking after the two children, giving them snacks one moment and reminding them to drink water the next. She pretended not to notice the scrutinizing gazes around her.
But though she wanted to keep a low profile, her abilities-no, someone wouldn't allow it!
A palace maid came over and said, "Miss Tang? His Highness asks that you bring Miss Yanran over."
Tang Zhuyun thought, I'm not going!
"Yanran is shy around strangers and doesn't want to go over," she said, making an excuse as she looked to Yanran for help.
Look at me. My eyes are full of reluctance.
Although Yanran was young, she was first-rate at reading people's expressions.
Though she very much wanted to go, she saw Tang Zhuyun's expression and said, "Tell Father I'm not going."
Tang Zhuyun breathed a sigh of relief. Good girl!
But the palace maid looked troubled and lowered her voice. "Actually, it's His Majesty who wants to see you."
The emperor? Had he gone mad?
He could see his granddaughter whenever he wanted, so why did he have to do it now?
The main problem was that Tang Zhuyun would have to take Yanran over, and she didn't want to become the target of everyone's arrows. Aaaaaah!
Tang Zhuyun couldn't leave either Yanran or Linlin unattended, so she took one child in each hand and led them both toward the Prince of Jin.
When they were almost there, she asked Yanran, "Can you go over by yourself?"
She didn't want to get close enough to have to bow to the Prince of Jin. She was looking after his child, and now she had to bow to him too? Wouldn't he just be living the dream!
Yanran said nothing. She simply tilted her head up and gazed at her pitifully with big, watery eyes.
Tang Zhuyun's heart softened, but she wasn't stupid either. The bird that sticks its head out gets shot; she couldn't put herself forward.
Then an idea struck her. "How about letting Brother Linlin take you over?"
Yanran immediately nodded, her head bobbing like a pestle pounding garlic.
Tang Zhuyun was delighted. Linlin had always stayed by Tang Baixin's side, so he certainly wouldn't put a foot wrong in his manners or dealings with others, and he wouldn't be intimidated by the occasion.
Son, it's up to you!
Then Linlin took Yanran's hand and went forward to pay his respects to the Prince of Jin.
The two children looked like a golden boy and jade girl, drawing gazes and exclamations of admiration wherever they went.
Tang Zhuyun heard the people around her discussing whose children they were and thought proudly, Mine. They're both mine!
The Prince of Jin glanced at Tang Zhuyun, who was hiding behind a guard and pretending to be a quail, then took the two children to pay their respects to the emperor.
The emperor laughed. "Sixth Son, where did you conjure up another grandson for me? Why does he look a little familiar?"
Tang Mingfan rose and bowed. "Your Majesty, this is my good-for-nothing grandson."
"You old fellow," the emperor scolded him with a laugh. "Afraid I'll snatch your grandson away, are you? Come, both of you, come here to me."
Yanran was a little timid. She seldom saw other people to begin with, and now she was facing the emperor, so naturally she felt uneasy.
Linlin tightened his grip on her hand, and only then did Yanran remember that she could not defy the emperor. She lowered her head and let Linlin lead her forward.
The emperor was very pleased and told Wang Fu, who stood beside him, to bring them pastries and fruit.
He asked Yanran about her health, and she answered softly but clearly, "Thank you, Imperial Grandfather. Elder Sister Tang has already cured Yanran's illness."
"Elder Sister Tang?"
Tang Mingfan looked thoroughly smug, but his words were so modest they made one want to punch him. "Indeed, she is my daughter."
The emperor's interest was piqued. "That daughter of yours you used to worry about all the time?"
Tang Mingfan wasn't very happy to hear that, even from the emperor.
"Your Majesty, she is the daughter who rises early and works late every day, manages the household, and shows filial devotion to me."
The emperor roared with laughter. "You're taking issue with me! I was wondering why Linlin looked so familiar. Don't his eyes and brows bear some resemblance to yours? Good child, in the future, be an upright and incorruptible official like your grandfather, with a bright mirror hung high!"
Linlin knelt and kowtowed. "Tang Duo will remember Your Majesty's teachings."
"Good, good, good. Minister Tang, this grandson of yours is very fine. Wang Fu, reward him with the four treasures of the study. Give him that piece of chicken-blood stone I just acquired for carving a seal, and a pouch of gold and silver ingots to play with."
Everyone understood that the emperor held Tang Mingfan in high regard, and they were even less inclined to underestimate him.
Linlin accepted the imperial decree and gave thanks.
Yanran beamed and said softly, "Brother Linlin, you're amazing. Even Imperial Grandfather praised you."
The emperor looked at her and smiled. "Why are you so happy, Yanran? You're not the one I rewarded."
Yanran blushed and lowered her head, but she was still smiling.
The emperor said, "Seeing you so lively and full of energy now makes me truly happy as well. Wang Fu, reward Yanran, and reward Tang..."
"Zhuyun. My daughter Zhuyun," Tang Mingfan supplied.
Everyone was left speechless by Tang Mingfan's shameless behavior.
Yet the emperor was so amused that he burst out laughing. "You, honestly..."
Since the emperor had bestowed a reward on her, Tang Zhuyun could no longer pretend to be a quail. She went forward and properly kowtowed to thank him.
The emperor had rewarded her with six bolts of silk. She didn't know whether they were pretty; even if they weren't, she couldn't sell them. How depressing. Yanran had received two pouches of gold and silver ingots, and Tang Zhuyun would rather have swapped with her.
As though she knew what Tang Zhuyun was thinking, Yanran gave her all her rewards. "For Elder Sister Tang's dowry!"
Tang Zhuyun flushed red. She could even hear the emperor laughing.
It's over. I'll never get rid of this label as a lovesick woman desperate to marry.